Werner Hosewinckel Christie (officer)
Encyclopedia
Werner Hosewinckel Christie (13 December 1917 – 29 December 2004) was a Norwegian air force officer, who reached the rank of major general
in the Royal Norwegian Air Force
.
as a son of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie
(1877–1927) and Karen Amalie Wedel-Jarlsberg (1886–1952). He was a brother of pianist Amalie Christie
and officer Johan Koren Christie
, an uncle of politician Werner Christie
and a grandnephew of politician Hans Langsted Christie
and architect Christian Christie
. He was also a second cousin of Jacob Christie Kielland
and Else Christie Kielland.
In 1945 he married Elisabeth Marie Cathrine Hille, which made him a son-in-law of bishop Henrik Greve Hille.
in 1935, and attended the Technische College of Berlin
from 1935 to 1937 and Hærens Flyveskole from 1937 to 1939. As World War II
broke out, Christie, with the rank of sergeant, was called to Sola Airport
as a member of Norway's neutrality
guard. However the airport was attacked by Germany
on 9 April 1940 and fighting ensued. The Norwegians lost the battle, but Christie managed to retreat to the inner country. His group was involved in fighting
until 23 April, whereafter it retreated further east. Norway eventually fell to German rule, and in the autumn of 1940 Christie fled to Canada via Sweden, the Soviet Union and the United States. He joined the air force-in-exile at Little Norway
, and spent the rest of the war as a fighter pilot. He commanded the Norwegian No. 332 Squadron, then the RAF's 234 Squadron
, and as Wing Leader of 150 Wing and the Hunsdon Wing, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After 244 operational missions he was shot down over Germany on 18 April 1945 and held as a prisoner-of-war until the war's end. Not many from his Hærens Flyveskole class survived the war.
After the war Christie wanted to continue in the air force. He graduated from the RAF Staff College
in 1946, worked for the Scandinavian Airlines System
from 1947 to 1949 and as the aerial attaché at the Norwegian embassy in Stockholm from 1949 to 1951. He was appointed as head of the Norwegian Air Force High Command in 1951, with the rank of Major, but did not stay for long. He worked at the military airport at Gardermoen
from 1952 to 1954 and at the air force staff academy from 1954 to 1956. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1953. From 1956 to 1959 he was the secretary-general of Norsk Aero Klubb. He then returned to the Air Force, and was promoted to Colonel in 1962 and Major General in 1968.
He left the air force in 1977. He worked for the clothing company Helly Hansen
for a year, and then for the Norwegian Red Cross
from 1978 to 1982. He died in December 2004 in Oslo.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
.
Personal life
He was born in Vang, HedmarkVang, Hedmark
Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...
as a son of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie (1877–1927)
Werner Hosewinkel Christie was a Norwegian agricultural researcher.-Personal life:He was born in Hommelvik as a son of engineer Johan Koren Christie and Catherine Frederike Blom. He was a grandnephew of Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie and Edvard Eilert Christie and a nephew of politician Hans...
(1877–1927) and Karen Amalie Wedel-Jarlsberg (1886–1952). He was a brother of pianist Amalie Christie
Amalie Christie
-Personal life:She was born in Vang, Hedmark as a daughter of professor Werner Hosewinckel Christie. She was a sister of officers Johan and Werner Christie, a grandniece of politician Hans Langsted Christie and Christian Christie, an aunt of Werner Christie and a second cousin of Jacob Christie...
and officer Johan Koren Christie
Johan Koren Christie (officer)
Johan Koren Christie was a Norwegian engineer and air force officer, who reached the rank of major general in the Royal Norwegian Air Force.-Personal life:...
, an uncle of politician Werner Christie
Werner Christie
Werner Hosewinckel Christie is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was Norway's first Minister of Health from 1992 to 1995, serving in Gro Harlem Brundtland's cabinet from 1992 to 1996....
and a grandnephew of politician Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie
Hans Langsted Christie was a Norwegian jurist and politician.He was born in Fridalen in Aarstad a son of customs treasurer Werner Hosewinckel Christie...
and architect Christian Christie
Christian Christie
Eilert Christian Brodtkorb Christie was a Norwegian architect.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of customs officer Werner Hosewinckel Christie and Hansine Langsted...
. He was also a second cousin of Jacob Christie Kielland
Jacob Christie Kielland
-Personal life:He was born in Bergen to architect Jens Zetlitz Monrad Kielland and his wife Anna Magdalena Cathrine , née Christie. His grandfather was priest and politician Jacob Kielland, and through him, Jacob Christie Kielland was the grandnephew of painter Kitty Lange Kielland and novelist...
and Else Christie Kielland.
In 1945 he married Elisabeth Marie Cathrine Hille, which made him a son-in-law of bishop Henrik Greve Hille.
Career
Christie took his examen artiumExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1935, and attended the Technische College of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
from 1935 to 1937 and Hærens Flyveskole from 1937 to 1939. As World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Christie, with the rank of sergeant, was called to Sola Airport
Stavanger Airport, Sola
Stavanger Airport, Sola is an international airport located in Sola, Norway, southwest of Stavanger. It is Norway's third-busiest airport, with both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter traffic for the offshore North Sea oil installations...
as a member of Norway's neutrality
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
guard. However the airport was attacked by Germany
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
on 9 April 1940 and fighting ensued. The Norwegians lost the battle, but Christie managed to retreat to the inner country. His group was involved in fighting
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
until 23 April, whereafter it retreated further east. Norway eventually fell to German rule, and in the autumn of 1940 Christie fled to Canada via Sweden, the Soviet Union and the United States. He joined the air force-in-exile at Little Norway
Little Norway
The Flyvåpnenes Treningsleir , the official name) or "Little Norway" was a Norwegian Army Air Service/Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp in Canada during the Second World War.-Origins:...
, and spent the rest of the war as a fighter pilot. He commanded the Norwegian No. 332 Squadron, then the RAF's 234 Squadron
No. 234 Squadron RAF
No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
, and as Wing Leader of 150 Wing and the Hunsdon Wing, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After 244 operational missions he was shot down over Germany on 18 April 1945 and held as a prisoner-of-war until the war's end. Not many from his Hærens Flyveskole class survived the war.
After the war Christie wanted to continue in the air force. He graduated from the RAF Staff College
RAF Staff College
The RAF Staff College may refer to:*RAF Staff College, Andover *RAF Staff College, Bulstrode Park *RAF Staff College, Bracknell...
in 1946, worked for the Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
from 1947 to 1949 and as the aerial attaché at the Norwegian embassy in Stockholm from 1949 to 1951. He was appointed as head of the Norwegian Air Force High Command in 1951, with the rank of Major, but did not stay for long. He worked at the military airport at Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the principal airport serving Oslo, Norway. It acts as the main domestic hub and international airport for Norway, and the second-busiest airport in the Nordic countries. A hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a focus city for Widerøe, it is...
from 1952 to 1954 and at the air force staff academy from 1954 to 1956. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1953. From 1956 to 1959 he was the secretary-general of Norsk Aero Klubb. He then returned to the Air Force, and was promoted to Colonel in 1962 and Major General in 1968.
He left the air force in 1977. He worked for the clothing company Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen is a high-end producer of textiles and special gear for sports and work on the ocean and in the mountains, headquartered in Oslo, Norway .Today, the brand is recognized for its foul-weather fishing gear and can be seen both on television and...
for a year, and then for the Norwegian Red Cross
Norwegian Red Cross
The Norwegian Red Cross was founded September 22, 1865 by prime minister Frederik Stang. In 1907 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence authorized the organization for voluntary medical aid in war...
from 1978 to 1982. He died in December 2004 in Oslo.